Dover honors Vietnam Veterans at Memorial Park ceremony

Marking the day in 1973 when the final American troops left Vietnam, the Kent County Chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America marked the 40th anniversary of the end of the conflict with a ceremony at Memorial Park in Dover.

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By Sarah Barbansarah.barban@doverpost.comTwitter: @SarahDoverPost

Dover Post

By Sarah Barbansarah.barban@doverpost.comTwitter: @SarahDoverPost

Posted Apr. 2, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Updated Apr 2, 2013 at 10:31 AM

By Sarah Barbansarah.barban@doverpost.comTwitter: @SarahDoverPost

Posted Apr. 2, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Updated Apr 2, 2013 at 10:31 AM

Marking the day in 1973 when the final American troops left Vietnam, the Kent County Chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America marked the 40th anniversary of the end of the conflict with a ceremony at Memorial Park in Dover.

The event was well attended by veterans, families and local politicians.

The service included music, award presentations and a speech by Sam Chick, an Iraq veteran who served with the 101st Airborne. Chick touched on how welcome the VVA makes returning veterans from feel – regardless of the conflict they fought in.

"Whenever my unit returned from deployment the VVA was always there when we got home," he said. "I know my generation like the vets of the past will stand together to support the vets of the future."

The event also featured several unveilings. A memorial featuring a brass plaque with the names of the major contributors to the original memorial was unveiled. So was as a brick dedicated to Sr. Airman Elizabeth Loncki, who was killed by an IED in Iraq.

"She joined the military because she wanted to prove to herself she could do it, she wanted to prove to people that she wasn't the typical blonde," said Jennifer Gawinski, Elizabeth's Aunt.

During Saturday's ceremony, the Kent County Vietnam Veterans of American also placed a sign to mark where a new memorial will be erected. The organization is currently in the process of raising money to create a memorial for the Delawareans who have lost their lives in the Middle East since the early 1990s.

To remember those lost in Vietnam, two wreaths were placed in front of the Vietnam memorial and the 28 names of the Kent Countians who died in that conflict were read.

"I came out to support my grandfather and our military," said Sara Thomas. "We are here today because of them."